Internet maps 'ignore history'

Britain's most senior cartographer has warned that online maps are wiping thousands of British landmarks off the map.

Under threat from the rise of internet maps are churches, ancient woodlands and stately homes, said the British Cartographic Society president Mary Spence, as web maps gloss over these historical artefacts.

"Corporate cartographers are demolishing thousands of years of history at a stroke by not including them on maps that millions of us now use every day," said Spence in an address to the Royal Geographic Society.

"We're in real danger of losing what makes maps so unique; giving us a feel for a place even if we've never been there," she added.

However, Ed Parsons, a geospatial technologist at Google, argued that the way in which we use maps has changed.

"Internet maps can now be personalised allowing people to include landmarks and information that is of interest to them," Parsons said.

Anyone can create their own maps or use experiences to collaborate with others in charting their local knowledge," Parsons continued.

Items of historical interest are still included in maps, said Parsons, but people will have to look for them.

Google is currently collecting data on the streets of the UK ahead of the launch of its Google Street View mapping service.

Do you think mapping websites are overlooking our history? Have your say in the Web User forums.

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